Texans need to put pressure on state lawmakers to not cut funding for pre-K, early childhood advocates said Wednesday in Dallas.

Research repeatedly shows that no single investment in education has a better return or long-term impact than high quality prekindergarten. But as the state tackles a grim budget outlook, the future of pre-K funding is at risk.

"The research is really clear and at some point, people need to pay attention to the data," said Bob Sanborn, president and CEO of the advocacy group Children at Risk. "If you're putting Texas first, you can't help but put pre-K up there. This is beyond politics. It's about taking care of our children."

Retired Dallas Police Chief David Brown was flanked by local business, civic and nonprofit leaders as he spoke Wednesday about the impact of pre-K education on his life. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings speaks to the media about his support for state funding of high-quality pre-K education at a press conference on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 at Old Parkland in Dallas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)

Preschooler Alexis Rowden, 5, works on a food pyramid activity on Friday, December 9, 2016 at Wilmer Early Childhood Center in Wilmer, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)

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Preschooler Juan Chiquito, 5, excitedly completes a pattern during an exercise with his teacher on Friday, December 9, 2016 at Wilmer Early Childhood Center in Wilmer, Texas. (Jeffrey McWhorter/Special Contributor)

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Gov. Greg Abbott made pre-K one of his priorities for the second session in a row, asking lawmakers to approve $236 million for the next two years. That would double what the Legislature approved in 2015 for one-time grants awarded to districts — including Dallas — that work on boosting the quality of pre-K through lower teacher ratios, training, stronger curriculum or other proven efforts.

Former Dallas Police Chief David Brown said pre-K changed the trajectory of his life as a kid growing up in the tougher parts of Oak Cliff. Because of the solid foundation set early, he often scored above grade level, was in advanced courses in school and was able to be successful in college, he said.

"The strongest component of my education and professional career was how I started — in a quality pre-K education," Brown said. "I would argue that the community needs this more than they need anything because how these young babies start their education really decides whether that area is going to progress economically, whether these kids are going to get good jobs or whether they're going to be able to go to college or take a step out of poverty into the middle class."

Brain development is most critical in the early years, research shows. And in December a Nobel Prize-winning economist found that for every $1 spent on quality preschool, society sees at least a $6 return on investment.

Dallas officials said they've seen dramatic gains — particularly in third-grade reading tests — in students who attend the district's revamped pre-K compared with classmates.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said now is the time to invest in pre-K, not only for children's success but for the state economy. Texas needs an educated workforce, and early childhood education has the furthest reach to help put students most in need on track toward college readiness, he said.

"Even with the pension fund [crisis], there's nothing more important to city of Dallas' future than these young boys and girls," Rawlings said. "We have a critical moment at the Legislature. They're all running around doing a lot of things and budget is one of them. But we have got to make sure that they step up to the plate and fully fund this."